“You’ll probably end up with several, the way you’ve been inspiring me lately. I’ve always wanted to write music, but I’ve never really had much inspiration. The pain of losing Isabel inspired me enough for one song, but once I was done, I couldn’t get anything else right again. But now, with you, the ideas won’t stop coming. You’ve opened the floodgates.”
“Rhett, that’s amazing!”
“You’re the one who’s inspiring me.”
“But you’re the one writing the songs.”
“And I wouldn’t be writing them without you.”
“Just take the credit while I’m giving it to you.”
I scrunch my face up at her. “Fine.”
“Is it just the guitar or do I get to hear you sing again too?”
“You don’t want to hear me sing. I sound like a dying whale when I sing.”
“You donot!I’m such a sucker for that raspy voice you have. And I’m not just saying that because I love you. You genuinely have an incredible voice. I can’t believe you’ve never tried to pursue a career in music.”
I just shrug. “I love music, but I also love working on the ranch. I think this is a gift I’d like to keep private, just as a hobby. I don’t need to ruin it by turning it into something for money. I just want to write songs for my beautiful girlfriend.”
“I think I can live with that.”
I let out a sharp exhale. “Here goes nothing, I guess.”
I strum the first few chords, and watch as she becomes instantly entranced, unable to take her eyes off me. That feeling is more than mutual. I look deep into those beautiful amber eyes that drive me absolutely wild as I strum a song about how she opened up my whole world.
ChapterFifty-Two
Olivia
I set down my turkey,bacon, and avocado sandwich. “So, let me get this straight, you two drunkenly convinced Jax to drive you all the way to Amarillo so you could track down Austin,andyou caught him with another woman? You’resureit was romantically?”
Callie nods emphatically, her eyes practically popping out of her head.
“Yeah, I’m sure of it,” Lauren says. “She was naked in his hotel bed. I swear it was like something you only see in the movies. He couldn’t even try to deny it.”
“What happens now?”
Lauren winces. “I called off the wedding, obviously, and he’s moving out. He says he’s going to live with his parents temporarily, but I hope he just moves to Amarillo to be with that girl. I don’t really want to see him everywhere in town now, and it’d somehow make me feel better if there’s at least some real feelings there. After being together for almost eight-years, I’d prefer he cheated on me because he found the real love of his life, not just because he’s a horny dude, or, I don’t know, that I just wasn’t enough for him anymore.”
“Lauren, no!” Callie bellows. The elderly couple at the table to our left pause their conversation to eye her. “Sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Colt. Please enjoy your meal.” She gives a cheesy grin and a wave before leaning in toward Lauren, lowering her voice. “Don’t you dare think for one second that this is your fault or that you weren’t enough for him. If anything, he wasn’t enough for you. He just proved that with his actions.”
“Thanks, Callie.”
“I just can’t believe someone would do that to another human, especially a human as sweet as you.”
Callie waves down the waitress, turning to Lauren and adding, “I know what will cheer you up.” She orders us something called a gooey cookie.
“This might not be all that helpful yet since things are still fresh, but I think this could be good for you,” I say.
Lauren arches a brow, forcing me to explain myself. “When I asked you to come out with us the other night, you tried to tell me you had to get things ready for Austin to come home. Then a little bit before you and Callie left, you were talking about how you felt like you two had just been living parallel lives. It just seems to me like this can be an opportunity for you to live life on your own terms, not for anyone else. As someone who was constantly trying to satisfy other people all the time, I can tell you it’s exhausting, and it’s really freeing to finally escape that.”
She nods. I’m sure it’s a little early for her to hear all of this, but it’s evident she’s at least trying to give my words some thought.
Unable to tame my curiosity, I change the subject. “So, how did you convince Jax to drive you two all the way to Amarillo? If you left after his shift, it must have been at least two-thirty in the morning.”
“You should’ve seen it! Lauren has some sort of magical powers or something because she just batted her eyelashes at Jax, and he was like putty in her hands. I’ve never seen that flirt look so uncool. It was amazing!”
